Folding coop or crate.



P. T. WING. FOLDING 0001 OR CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED IAIB..13, 1909.

935,443. Patented Sept.28, 1909.

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5n fez P. T. WING.

FOLDING 0001 OR CRATE. APPLICATION FILED MAR.13. 1909. 935 ,443 PatentedSept. 28, 1909. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

a? NJ v A Q% \N UNITED STATES PATENT FFTCE.

FREDERICK T. WING, OF LINCOLN, NEBRASKA.

FOLDING COOP OR CRATE.

' lapsible coops or crates for shipping poultry, eggs, fruits,vegetables, etc., the object of the invention being to provide a coop orcrate which is simple of construction, inexpensive of production,capable of being readily set-up for use and collapsed for shipment, andwhich, in addition possesses both strength and durability.

The invention consists of the features of construction, combination andarrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is aperspective view of a set-up crate embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is acentral vertical cross section of the same. Fig. 3 is a top plan view ofthe coop as it appears when folded or collapsed. Fig. 4. is alongitudinal section of the same.

The coop or crate embodying my invention is of conventional oblongrectangular form, and embodies a bottom 1, sides 2, ends 3 and a top orcover 4. In the main, it is contemplated to construct the coop of wood,only such metal parts being employed as are necessary to form thefastening and pivot connections between the parts, but it may beconstructed wholly of wood or wholly of metal or of any desired degreeof combination of these materials.

The bottom 1, which is preferably imperforate, is provided withlongitudinally extending supporting sill strips 5, and has secured tothe upper surface thereof end cross strips or bars 6, which are of lesslength than the width of said bottom and provided with terminal bearingplates 7 carrying pivot pins 8.

Each of the sides 2 of the coop is preferably composed of a series oflongitudinal slats connected by metallic strips 9 and 10, preferablythree in number, arranged at the center and adjacent the ends thereof.These straps form pivotal supports for the side, each strap being bentat its lower end to form an eye 11 pivotally engaging a staple or thelike fixed to the bottom 1, thus so Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 13, 1909.

Patented Sept. 28, 1909.

Serial No. 483,219.

mounting the side that it may assume a vertical posit-ion in theformation of the set-up coop or be turned down to a horizontal positionupon the bottom 1 in folding or collapsing the coop. The height of thesides is such that when they are turned down they will rest on oppositesides of the longitudinal center of the bottom 1 with their upper edgeslying in close relation.

The end pieces 3 may be of any suitable construction and include cornerposts 13 and an upper cross bar 1% connecting the upper ends of saidposts, the lower ends of which are pivotally mounted upon the pin 8 toswing in either direction longitudinally of the coop. The two end piecesare connected at opposite sides of the crate by longitudinal slats 15,which are pivot-ally connected with the corner posts, as shown at 16.

hen the crate is set-up for use, the ends of the side pieces 2 restagainst the corner post 13, by which outward movement of said sides isprevented, while the side pieces in turn, when fastened in position,serve to hold the end pieces from swinging movement. The upper ends ofthe central straps 9 of the side pieces are bent outwardly at rightangles to provide eyes or perforated keeper members 17 which are adaptedto engage notches 18 formed in the upper edges of the slats 15, andwhich have their openings arranged to register with vertical openings 19formed in the slats 15 when the coop is set-up. lVhen the sides areerected, their upper slats also bear against the slats 15, thus addingto the stability of the coop.

The top or cover at of the coop may be either solid or slatted, aslatted type being illustrated in the present instance. As shown, theslats 20 of this top or cover are connected by intermediate and endtransverse strips 21 and 22, respectively, the strips 22 being adaptedto rest upon the cross pieces 1 1 of the end pieces 3 when the cover isfitted in position. The width of the cover is also such that the outerslats thereof are adapted to rest upon the upper ends of the cornerposts 13 and upper edges of the slats 15. The cover is hinged or pivotedat one end, as indicated at 23, to the. cross bar 14 of one of the endpieces 3, so that it may be swung up and down to open and closedposition. It may be secured in closed position when the crate is filledor in transit by a wire loop or other suitable fastening device 2%connecting it at its other end with the cross bar 1% of the other endpiece 3.

In order to hold the parts of the body of the coop in a set-upcondition, fastening devices 25, such as cotter pins, are employed andpassed downward through openings 26 in the overlapping side slats of thecover, through the keeper members 17 of the straps 9 and through theopenings 19 in the straps 15, by which the folding portions of the bodywill be held against relative movement. Upon detaching these pins, itwill be readily understood that the side pieces 8 may be swung inwardlydown upon the bottom 1, while the end pieces and cover may be swungtogether in either direction longitudinally of the coop to the collapsedcondition shown in Figs. 3 and i, in which they may be suitably secured,thus folding the coop in a compact fiat form for ready and convenientstorage or shipment.

The mode of setting up the coop will be readily understood from theforegoing description, and it will be seen that when the coop is set upthe fastening devices 25 will assist in holding the cover at closed.

A crate constructed in accordance with my invention, as hereinbeforedescribed, is simple, inexpensive and durable, may be set-up andcollapsed within a minimum amount of time and with a minimum amount oflabor, and is adapted when folded or collapsed to occupy a comparativelysmall amount of space, thus insuring economy in storage and shipment.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new, is:

1. A coop or crate comprising a bottom,

side walls pivotally connected to the bottomto fold inwardly down uponthe upper surface thereof, said side walls being provided with fasteningmembers, end walls pivotally connected with the bottom to swinglongitudinally thereof, slats pivotally con necting the end walls ateach side of the coop and provided with openings to register with saidfastening members, a cover mounted upon the end pieces, and fasteningmembers adapted to engage the cover, the side walls and the openings insaid slats to secure the parts in set-up condition.

2. A coop comprising a bottom, end walls pivotally connected with thebottom to swing longitudinally thereof, slats pivotally conmeeting theend walls at each side of the coop and provided with openings therein,side walls pivoted to swing down upon the bottom and provided withperforated fastening members to register with the openings in saidslats, a cover mounted upon the end walls having openings therein, anddetachable keys adapted to be passed clownward through the openings inthe cover, the perforations in the side walls and the openings in theslats to secure the parts in set-up condition.

3. A coop comprising a bottom, end walls pivotally connected with thebottom to swing longitudinally thereof, slats pivotally connected withthe end walls at opposite sides of the coop, each of said slats beingprovided with an opening and a notch in its upper edge intersecting thesame, side walls provided with straps pivotally connected with thebottom to adapt said walls to swing inwardly over upon the upper surfacethereof, one of said straps of each side being provided at its upper endwith an outwardly bent keeper having a perforation therein, said keepersbeing adapted to engage the notches in the slats, a cover carried by theend pieces and having openings therein to register with the perforationsin the keeper members and the openings in the slats, and keys adapted tobe passed through said perforations and openings to secure the parts inset-up condition.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FREDERICK T. WVING. l Vitnesses B. H. HAGELIN, H. J. WVING.

